Friday, August 19, 2005
Eric Cesnik For City Council
Today I went to my first DFNYC Mixer. It is like this social event. MeetUps are to get the work done. And then you have this Mixer once a month. It is supposed to be more like a party. But I also saw a lot of work done.
There was this great vibe. Lots of introductions.
I met Eric.
Eric is one cool dude.
He was a top notch student at Dartmouth and at Harvard Law School. He was at some midtown law firm. And then he showed up for a MeetUp. This was one of the earliest ones. One where Howard Dean discovered Howard Dean. Next thing you know he moved to Vermont to become a full timer with the Dean campaign. He is one of those inspired people I read about when Dean was glowing hot, like people who biked across the country for Dean.
He is from Madison, Wisnconsin, a sister town to Bloomington, Indiana. A progressive island. I have been to Madison a few times. There's this really cool Nepali restaurant close to downtown.
And now he is running for City Council.
We talked about Dean. I said he might end up the Barry Goldwater for "our" side. Ronald Reagan claimed to have been inspired by Goldwater. Dean's impact might last a generation.
I am a I-don't-have-a-job-I-don't-want-a-job kind of aspiring entrepreneur. A rocket burns a lot of fuel during take off. But I hope to make some time to volunteer for Eric's campaign. There is a convergence between the fun of meeting people, and volunteering for Eric.
I am getting caught up with this thing. I mean, I consider myself to be a political person, and Dean is great, but I feel more comfortable with global and national politics. DFNYC has been a culture shock to me. I meet foreign names at every meet I show up for. And these are supposed to be major names. The office of a Public Advocate: I had never heard of such a thing. And the office is supposed to be second only to that of Mayor. Talk about Mayor, even the Bloomberg name feels provincial to me. Issues? I am like, the subways keep running. What could possibly be wrong?
But I will learn. These people will make sure. DFNYC has become sort of a homebase for me in the city. It sure is drawing me in.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Seceding
I just got this wonderful forward in my inbox.
Subject: Letter to Red states from California
Dear Red States,
We're ticked off at the way you've treated
We get the Statue of Liberty. You get
We do wish you success in
With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all
Sincerely,
Blue
P.S AND.............YOU GET KARL ROVE AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO APPARENTLY LIED TO GRAND JURIES IN QUEST OF RIGHT WING IDEOLOGIES. AFTER ALL, TRUTH IS JUST A LIBERAL OBSESSION.
HAVE A HAPPY, EVEN IF SHORT-LIVED,RAPTURE. WE WILL APPRECIATE THE PEACE AND QUIET.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Dumb And Dumberer: Creationist Bush
Nothing puts me off like this easy litmus test. I have zero room for creationists. It is like someone said to a creationist arguing evolution is but a theory, so is gravity, so why don't you fly away!
Of course evolution is but a theory, that is the beauty of it. It is a sound theory that has so far stood the test of time, and is always open to the possibility it might get toppled by some better theory down the line, but that "theory" is not never going to be creationism, because creationism is not a theory, it is religious dogma.
So if God created the world in six days, is it six days or is it seven days? The Muslims say it is seven days, I think. So which is it?
The creationism Bush subscribes to is a religious concept propounded by one specific (of many equally valid) religions, or more accurately a sect within that religion, for many within that same religion do not let their minds get befuddled by the nonsense debate.
Evolution is a scientific theory. And so only another scientific theory trying to make sense of the same set of facts can compete with it. Creationism is not it. And so the two can not be said to compete. There is no debate, at least there is no intelligent debate on the issue.
What gets me though about creationists is that their stance on the issue is a symptom they deep in their hearts do not really have room for religious diversity. That is seriously problematic. And so Bush goes on record saying "if there were a law that would make people love each other, I would sign it." Meaning racial strife will just have to be plain tolerated. That is regressive.
Presidents come and go. Charles Darwin stays on.
- Editorial: Origins/Don't mix science, religion Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription), MN
- The philosophy of intelligent design Seattle Times, United States
- Bush re-ignites evolution debate Newsday, NY
- Mythology in the White House Seattle Post Intelligencer
- Leading Republican differs with Bush on evolution Reuters
- Bush's two minds on science Cincinnati Post, OH
- They have little faith in 'intelligent design' Los Angeles Times, CA
- Fanning the Controversy Over 'Intelligent Design' TIME
- President reignites evolution debate San Jose Mercury News, United States
- Bush remarks prompt new debate on intelligent design Catholic World News
- President stirs debate with evolution remark Sydney Morning Herald (subscription), Australia
- Inspiration for Doubters of Darwin Los Angeles Times, CA
- Bush boosts alternative evolution theory Boston Globe, United States
- Bush says all theories of life have place in classroom Houston Chronicle, United States
- Bush reignites evolution debate Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription), MN
- Bush wants alternatives to Darwinism taught in school Financial Times, UK
- Bush Remarks On 'Intelligent Design' Theory Set Off Debate Washington Post, United States
- Bush: Schools should teach 'intelligent design' CNN
- Bush Remarks Roil Debate Over Teaching of Evolution New York Times, United States
- Intelligent Design pushed by anti-science exremists The Morning Sun, MI
- Bush and Darwin Tech Central Station, DC
- Charles Darwin, Intelligent Design & The Separation Clause MichNews.com, MI
- American Federation of Teachers Statement on President Bush's ... U.S. Newswire (press release), DC